Bears News: Previewing the UFL: San Antonio Brahmas |
They always say things are bigger in Texas, which is the case regarding spring football. The new United Football League (UFL), set to premiere at the end of March, has nearly half its teams from Texas. Three of the eight teams call that state home.
That includes the San Antonio Brahmas, the next stop on our UFL season preview list. When you think of the UFL, Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson comes to mind as he is part owner of this league. Known as the Brahma Bull for those who followed his wrestling days, the Brahmas of San Antonio should be known as his team since they have his nickname as their team name. San Antonio will be led by the most experienced coach in the UFL and arguably one of the best defensive coaches ever to step foot on the sidelines in Wade Phillips, who guided the Houston Roughnecks to a 4-0 start last season before finishing 7-3. Phillips is no stranger to success in the coaching ranks, posting a career 89-67 record as a coach but just a 1-6 record in the postseason. Even if this isn't the most talented roster, the Brahmas are in great hands with Phillips and have a chance to win many games this season. With guys like Quinten Dermady and Tom Flacco expected to battle it out for quarterback, the Brahmas have many questions to address, especially on offense. They still need to get a go-to QB; their RB room isn't very deep, which is never good when you are trying to win games. However, once they find the QB to lead the way, the Brahmas WR room has plenty of talent, which will go a long way this season. TJ Vasher and Jordan Veasy are expected to be the go-to targets on the outside this season, as Vasher finished just shy of 200 yards last year, while Veasy has spent the better part of six seasons on NFL practice squads.
31-year-old Cody Latimer will also be a player to watch. The long-time NFL TE has racked up nearly 1,000 career yards in the NFL, bringing much-needed experience to an offense that lacks it. As long as these guys can do what they are capable of doing and others step up, the Brahmas offense should be able to put up enough points to stay competitive.
However, the glue of this team will be their defense once again, and with Phillips as the coach this season, that defense is expected to be even better. Jordan Williams and Jamir Jones are two of the most recognizable names, and they will take their perch in the LB position. Jones has picked up 20 career tackles in the NFL, while Williams has logged 89 tackles with the Atlanta Falcons.
Tavante Beckett and Joel Iyiegbuniwe will also see time at the LB, as Iyiegbuniwe has spent time in Chicago, logging nearly 40 tackles with the Bears.
If the LB can help pressure the quarterback, the Brahmas secondary should feast on some of these quarterbacks, as Teez Tabor will lead that group. At one point, Tabor was also part of the Chicago Bears. He has collected 59 career NFL tackles while also breaking up three passes.
Arguably, the best player on the Brahmas defense will line up on the other side of Tabor, where Darius Phillips calls home. A five-year NFL vet, four of those years coming in Cincinnati, Phillips not only has 75 tackles but has forced three fumbles, recovered a fumble, broken up 23 passes, and hauled in five interceptions. He also has nearly 800 return yardage, as Phillips brings an added element that most of these UFL teams won't have.
Bryce Thompson and AJ Hendy will also join the defensive ranks as they are expected to be the safeties once the season opens. Hendy was part of the Roughnecks last season but elected to follow Phillips to San Antonio as the fit was a better situation than remaining in Houston.
